Evan's Birth

Wednesday, March 13
 
I woke up feeling hopeful.  I hadn't slept well but I had a plan for the day and that always helps.  I was going to rest in the morning and then work on the crocheting while I watched a movie.  The baby was monitored from 9-9:30 and was active and healthy as always.  Around 10 I turned down the lights to try and get some rest.  I didn't really fall asleep but just kind of zoned out while paying attention to the baby's movements.  He wasn't super active but I figured he was just resting like me.  

Just before 12 I got up to use the restroom.  I felt something strange between my legs and when I went into the bathroom I realized the imbilical cord was hanging out at least 3 inches!  It was kind of a surreal moment.  I hesitated just a second and then pulled the emergency cord in the bathroom.  That brought 3 nurses rushing in.  I was still a bit in shock and barely squeaked out "I think the cord is out"  They ordered me onto the bed, threw my pajamas off and confirmed the cord had prolapsed (meaning it has preceded the baby through the cervix).  By some divine intervention my assigned high risk doctor (Dr. Spence) was sitting at the nurses station just outside my door.  They called her and she rushed in and shoved the cord back in and checked to make sure it was pulsating and the baby still had a heartbeat.  She ordered Sandy, my nurse, to climb on the bed and hold the cord in place while everyone else got my bed ready to move. 

I tried to grab my cell phone to call David but they ripped it out of my hand and said they would call him. So we are rushing down the hall and again I'm thinking that this cant be happening, not to me.  My life is boring and predictable-just how I like it!  People that know me know that I am not spontaneous and I don't like surprises.  However, this was actually happening so I was fervently praying the entire ride to the operating room.  While we were riding down the hall Dr. Spence asked Sandy if the cord was still pulsating.  The nurse said "yes, it's at 60"--so low!!  His heart rate was usually in the 160's. I was still in a state of shock and not processing the entire thing.   I've never had any sort of surgery before- besides my removing my wisdom teeth.  So when they wheeled me into this sterile room with bright lights overhead and people rushing here and there, it was terrifying. 

Right away they tried to get an IV going but it took them three tries because I'm a "hard stick" according to them.  It ended up in the crook of my arm- the worst spot possible.  While they were putting in the IV the anesthesiologist started me on the sleepy stuff while muttering that she couldn't find me in their computer system!  I wanted to say "Who cares? My baby is dying, get him out!"  And while those 2 things were going on they were also putting in a catheter.  It was major chaos. Finally they directed me to scoot onto the operating table.  I was on my way out by then so they had to guide me with their voices. That is the last thing I remember.  I was told they began the c- section at 12:14 pm and he was born at 12:16 pm.  The entire ordeal from when I had pulled the emergency cord to when he was born was just about 15 minutes- amazing.

When I woke up it was about 2 hours later.  I could hear voices but I couldn't open my eyes.  Eventually I did and I saw David.  I knew he was worried about me.  I felt so badly for him- it must have been frightening to get a phone call that your wife was going into emergency surgery.  He stayed with me for a bit then they came and got him to check on the baby. He returned and reported to me that the baby had a breathing tube for about an hour after birth but was now on oxygen through his nose.  He told me that his apgar score had been a 1 when he was first born but then once they got a breathing tube in him it changed to an 8.  We didn't know the whole story at this point- that came later.

Soon they wheeled me back to my original room.  This would be my postpartum room.  I was glad not to have to change and get to know new nurses.  It was another tender mercy.  I was so tired and the morphine made me feel a bit funny.  I don't do very well with narcotics. They had to give me some anti-nausea medicine as well. I rested while David went back and forth between me and the baby, giving me reports each time.  It was so hard not to see my baby but I was so glad David could. During one of his reports we made the final decision to name him Evan Randall. They scheduled his first bath for 1:00 am.  So my nurses and I decided that I would get up at midnight and take my first post surgery stroll around the halls.  Afterward they would clean me up and then I could head upstairs to meet my baby.  The stroll went well, I even did 2 laps!

Meeting Evan for the first time was a bit surreal.  I felt so disconnected.  I know it was largely due to the morphine and exhaustion.  We stayed and watched his bath,  I don't remember much of it.  All  I remember is him wrapping his hand around my finger thru the window on his incubator.  The nurse asked if I wanted to hold him but I had to say no because I was feeling so weak and out of it.